A flat motorcycle tire can stop a journey in its tracks. Having experienced plenty of them, I ride prepared for a roadside repair. Besides a spare tube, patch kit, and tire tools, my kit includes two items for inflating tires. One is an electric inflator, the other one is a bicycle hand pump. This redundancy is a result of having both kinds of pumps fail.
Facing up to Flats
My riding buddy John and I were each carrying two pumps when my rear tire went flat 40 miles outside of Tonopah, Nevada, a couple of years ago (see above). We found both of our electric inflators crushed and useless. Turns out we’d both packed them in 
soft panniers and both dropped our bikes on that side. Things got more interesting when I pulled out a bicycle pump that could barely manage a wheeze. John’s bike pump saved the day—and the next, when it was his turn for a flat.
CO2 cartridges could have helped, but how many do you want to carry? Another flat, or two, could be waiting just down the road. John’s bicycle pump was a godsend in our circumstance, but it was slow and labor intensive. 
An electric pump would have had us back on the road in minutes, minus the sweat. They also make quick work of re-inflating tires after airing down, and some can be used on car tires as well.
We’ve collected and tested seven popular electric pumps to show you what’s out there and how they work. You’ll notice the device names include pump, inflator, and air compressor. These terms are used interchangeably here since inside each device is a pump that compresses air to inflate a tire.
Inflator Assessment
Testing began with weighing each pump kit and measuring its physical size as it came from the vendor. The volume of each package was then converted to liters to match typical pannier specs (see data table below).
Pumping tests took place on the rear tire of my Ténéré 700, a nearly new 150/70B-18 Motoz Tractionator GPS. I ran each inflator for five minutes on a zero-pressure tire, then measured the pressure with a digital gauge. 
Sound level readings were taken from 2 feet away using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app on my iPhone 11 Pro. While a phone won’t match the accuracy of a professional sound meter, the results allow reasonable comparisons. All of these pumps generate an obnoxious rattling noise in the 79 to 87 
dBA range. That level isn’t dangerous for the time it takes to fill a motorcycle tire, but keep some earplugs handy if you’re sensitive to noise. Have some gloves nearby as well. Pumping creates a lot of heat, and these devices can get quite hot when working hard.
Except for Slime’s inflator entry, all of the electric pumps here use SAE electrical terminals and include one or more cables to connect to a power source, either the motorcycle battery or cigarette lighter. In the write-ups below, cables are referred to by the end connected to power (e.g., 10-inch battery clamp cable).
Pump Candidates
Aerostich Mini-Compressor
Aerostich has never been a company to follow the crowd, and their Mini compressor is no exception. This don’t-box-me-in device has only a removable plastic cap covering the gears atop the motor. The fan vent and power wire connections are exposed at the bottom, a good reason to hang it by its split ring/carabiner system immediately. Taping over the bare wire connections 
would also be wise. Curiously, there were no instructions with this pump, just a warning sticker that it gets hot. The Mini comes with a 2-year Aerostich warranty.
A 26-inch air hose provides good range for the thumb-friendly, 90-degree locking chuck, and a wired-in 6-foot power cord with an inline switch places the pump within reach of both tires. Aerostich provides three power cords: a 15-inch battery pigtail; 15-inch battery clamps; and a 12-inch male cigarette lighter. All this fits into a fabric bag weighing 20 ounces and requires 1.25 liters to store, though it seems smaller. The Mini is rated to 90+ psi, while drawing 5-6 amps. In spite of the moderate draw, it’s a workhorse, filling the Tractionator to 37.0 psi in five minutes. No maximum run time or duty cycle is specified. Lacking a case, it was the loudest of the bunch, at 87 dBA.
$53 | aerostich.com
Antigravity ADV Tire Inflator
This pump is unique in that it can be powered by any Antigravity Micro-Start jump-starter/personal power supply equipped with a 12V outlet. I tested it with their popular XP-10 model using the cable provided and with a battery. The ADV kit also includes a 6-foot SAE cable and a 9-foot cigarette lighter cable. This compact inflator is the smallest one here, requiring 0.95 liters of space, and the least expensive.
A short 4-inch hose with a screw-on chuck tucks neatly into a slot on the ADV’s chassis. It exits at the top, where there is also an LED for low-light operations. The short hose makes the chuck tricky to connect and may require moving the bike to access the valve stem. The front has a power switch and an 85 psi gauge, accurate to ± 3 psi, according to Antigravity. Maximum pressure is 80 psi, with a maximum draw of 6 amps. Its duty cycle is 12-15 minutes on and 30 minutes off.
The pump worked well overall, reaching 29.2 psi during the fill test while registering 83 dBA. There is no case included, so size measurements are from the box. It has a 1-year limited warranty.
$30 | antigravitybatteries.com
BikeMaster Portable Mini-Air Compressor
The Mini-Air from BikeMaster packs a lot of capability into its small plastic case. Like the Micro-Start, the air hose tucks into a channel on the back but is 15 inches long with a thumb-lock chuck. The back panel also has storage space for the attached 55-inch SAE power cord and a 15-inch cigarette lighter cable. It’s a tight fit, but with some effort, a mere human can get them back into their cubbyhole. 
A set of 14-inch battery-clamp cables sits atop the pump in the Mini-Air’s form-fit sack. Small and light, the 1.14-liter kit weighs 20 ounces. I found it easy to set up and use.
BikeMaster rates their Mini-Air to 150 psi and notes that it must be stopped for the gauge to give an accurate reading. The instructions are clear and complete, include many cautions, and dictate a duty cycle of 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Its power requirement is 5-6 amps. The Mini-Air is no slouch, filling the test tire to 35.2 psi in five minutes, with a sound level of 80 dBA. BikeMaster products are sold through dealers only, so prices vary. It carries a limited 1-year warranty, using a form on their website.
$41 | bikemaster.com
CyclePump Expedition Tire Inflator
BestRest Product’s CyclePump Expedition is a giant among inflators, the kit requiring 1.92 liters of space and weighing just over 2 pounds. Metal parts throughout, a rubber-protected aluminum body, and hand assembling in the US allow BestRest to offer a lifetime warranty on the Expedition. The company claims you can stand on it or drop it without affecting its performance. The CyclePump’s only weakness is dirt, which will foul the inner workings, as it will do to any of the pumps here.
The Expedition’s attached 8-foot power cord connects to either a convertible cigarette/BMW plug (8-inch cable) or battery clamps with a fused 9-inch cable. The pump requires a minimum of 10 amps to operate. Two locking brass chucks are available, straight and 90-degree, with the latter (and more expensive) one reviewed here as the better choice for adventure motorcycles.
BestRest’s website has an inflation time chart that shows the CyclePump filling a 150/70-17 tire to 36.5 psi in five minutes. The 150/70-18 Tractionator reached a freeway-ready pressure of 36.4 psi at the conclusion of our test. The noise level averaged 80 dBA. BestRest provides excellent instructions, with more information on their website.
$165 | bestrestproducts.com
MotoPumps AirShot 2.0
The AirShot 2.0 stands out for its unique pistol-like shape. Extending from the “barrel” is a 24-inch air hose with a 90-degree locking chuck, while the attached 72-inch power cord and switch are on the handle. A lanyard allows suspending the unit from a foot peg or turn signal to prevent dirt intrusion. The AirShot 2.0 is also unique in having fused power supply cables all around. Choose from a 41-inch convertible cigarette/BMW plug (fuse inside), a 19-inch pigtail (used in all of the tests), or a 22-inch clip-on. The whole shebang fits into a padded, zippered, 1.7-liter nylon bag with room for other tools and supplies.
MotoPumps’ AirShot pulls 7.5 amps at maximum pressure, which is 50 psi for normal tires or 110 psi for Tubliss setups. There’s no gauge on the unit, but Motopumps claims a fill time of two to five minutes, depending on the tire (note that the AirShot is not intended for use with car tires). Fastest of the bunch, it pumped 47.8 psi into the test tire in five minutes with a noise level of 80 dBA.
Though instructions are lacking, the AirShot’s operation is simple. The prime directive is to hang it up out of the dirt. MotoPumps covers it with a 5-year limited warranty and offers it in black or orange. It is made in the USA.
$80 | motopumps.com
Slime Power Sport Tire Inflator
Slime’s Power Sport is the exception to the SAE connector convention, instead using a male cigarette lighter fitting on the attached 110-inch power cable. The cable straps to the side of the case, while the plug snaps into the side of it. The 7.5-inch air hose with a screw-on chuck slips into a rear slot and attaches easily to the tire valve.
Both 14-inch power cords, one with battery clips and one with bolt-on fittings, terminate in female cigarette connectors. This is fine for cars, but most motorcyclists would find a hardwired SAE connector much handier.
The Power Sport has a 0-100 psi gauge and an on/off switch up front, with an LED on top to illuminate attaching the chuck. Packed in its stout, zippered travel case, the Slime kit weighs 21 ounces and displaces 1.4 liters. The instructions are complete and simple to follow. Be aware that Slime requires a cigarette receptacle rated to 15 amps, unlike older 8-amp units. There is a 12-amp glass fuse in the male fitting, but Slime states that a 15-amp replacement is also appropriate.
The Power Sport emitted 83.5 dBA while filling the Tractionator to 31.5 psi. Slime provides a limited 1-year warranty from the date of purchase.
$53 | slime.com
Stop & Go Mini-Air Compressor
Best known for their popular tire patching and plugging kits, Stop & Go can finish your tire repair job with their Mini-Air pump. 
The lightest and smallest of the lot, this kit weighs just 14 ounces and takes up less than a liter of space in its zippered nylon case. The attached 66-inch power cord fits, with some effort, into a cubbyhole in the back. A short 3.5-inch air hose with a screw-on chuck stores in a slot on the bottom. 
A longer hose would be welcome when attaching the chuck to a valve stem. Also, the LED on top points in the opposite direction of the air hose. Power cord options are a 36-inch male cigarette lighter, a 12-inch alligator clip set, or the SAE pigtail most riders have on their battery.
The front of the Mini-Air has a power switch and a 50 psi gauge, which is also the pump’s maximum pressure. The Stop & Go pulls 6 amps, with a duty cycle of 10 minutes on and a minimum of 20 minutes off. It is the quietest inflator here, emitting 79 dBA while pumping the test tire to 22.1 psi. Stop & Go provides a 1-year guarantee with a provision for a 30-day exchange.
$45 | stopngo.com
Value Inflator
All of the inflators here performed as advertised, none missed a beat or faltered in the testing. Some are smaller to pack than others or weigh less, important considerations when preparing for a long trip. It would be hard to go wrong with any of these pumps, although the Stop & Go and Antigravity ADV offerings hamstring themselves with short hoses that make connections to valve stems difficult. However, they are the lightest pumps here and quite capable. 
The Slime Power Sport is a solid unit from a well-known company, but I much prefer an SAE source. The BikeMaster’s longer air hose was a blessing, and the test tire reached highway pressure within the five-minute window. Figure in its attractive price, and it earns the Value Award.
Pump of Choice
If this exercise has taught me anything, it’s that a thumb-lock chuck is easier to use than a screw-on (though the latter may be more reliable). Our remaining three inflators are so equipped. The CyclePump Expedition has the most robust case and extensive warranty. It is also the heaviest, bulkiest, and most expensive. The Expedition would be an excellent choice for a group of riders on a long journey.
The Aerostich Mini’s bare-bones design makes for a smaller, lighter—and louder—inflator that fills a tire quickly. The vulnerability of the Mini’s exposed electrical connections to damage and potential shorting concerns me.
That makes the MotoPumps AirShot 2.0, by far the fastest filler, our Editor’s Choice inflator. Though heavier and bulkier than I’d like, it has a quality USA build, a 5-year warranty, and a reasonable price.
Electric tire inflators are easy to find and easy to use. There’s really no excuse for not carrying one.
Sidebar: Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV Pump
For those that don’t trust electrons to do their bidding, a manual pump is the natural choice. With its flip-out foot stabilizer, sturdy aluminum construction, and high-volume delivery, the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV has the chops to be a main or backup pump. Examining it from the T-handle on top, my eyes follow the polished aluminum barrel to the reversible Presta/Schrader screw-on chuck. What I see is both a functional tool and a piece of industrial art.
If only it was as pleasant to use as it is to look at it. The Micro Floor Drive pumps air just fine; my criticism stems from other aspects. First, removing the chuck from where it’s screwed into the base for storage was initially difficult until I lubricated the threads. That helped, but the stabilizer also interferes with access to the chuck. 
Second, there’s a pressure release button in the knurled part of the chuck. When screwing the chuck onto or off of the valve stem, it’s tricky not to press the button and lose air. Finally, the aluminum chuck tended to bind on the valve stem, so I had to be careful not to cross-thread it. Reaching a bicycle valve stem would be much easier, but the release button problem remains.
Pump It Up
The foot stabilizer is a great idea and well executed, keeping the pump reasonably stable as I heaved away on the handle. Unfortunately, that handle has grooves in both ends for storing the air hose and is small to begin with, making it less than comfortable for pumping. Wearing gloves helps, but the flip-out handle on my 15-year-old mountain bike pump is more user-friendly.
I used the HV to air up my tires from 30 to 36 psi after airing down for some sandy roads in the Mojave. That 6 psi required 30 strokes for the front tire (a 90/90-21 Motoz Tractionator Dual Venture) and 90 on the rear. At home, I emptied the rear tire and gave the HV 500 strokes, netting me 32.2 psi.
Even considering its quirks, the Micro Drive HV is suitable for motorcycle use, and your friends will surely be impressed when you pull out this classy pump to air up. It’s available in silver and black, with a choice of no gauge (as tested), an inline gauge, or a digital gauge.
$55 | lezyne.com
N/A = not available N/S = not specified
Our No Compromise Clause: We do not accept advertorial content or allow advertising to influence our coverage, and our contributors are guaranteed editorial independence. Overland International may earn a small commission from affiliate links included in this article. We appreciate your support.
